West Virginia approves funeral protest ban!!

OFF THE WIRE
WEST VIRGINIA:


http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/552939.html
9:30 p.m.: Legislature approves funeral protest ban March 14, 2011
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - West Virginia lawmakers have passed legislation that would establish criminal penalties for protesting at funerals despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding such pickets.

The state Senate passed the measure Saturday after accepting changes made in the House of Delegates earlier in the week. If acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signs the measure, demonstrating at a funeral or memorial service would be a misdemeanor.

The measure responds to numerous anti-gay protests by a Kansas-based fundamentalist group. The Westboro Baptist Church has picketed military funerals and last year celebrated the death of 29 coal miners in the Upper Big Branch mine disaster.

In an 8-1 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the groups protests were protected by the First Amendment.